US Defender Of Internet Freedom, Keen On Protecting IP Rights 08/03/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments For the third year in a row, the United States mission to the United Nations in Geneva brought together human rights activists from different parts of the world in an effort to promote internet freedom. At a press briefing, a senior US State Department official described efforts to address challenges to freedom on the internet, and said that intellectual property in the context of internet is a complicated issue.
Intellectual Ventures Reaches Another Semiconductor Patent Settlement 06/03/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual Ventures (IV) announced today that another settlement has been reached in one of its three patent infringement cases involving nine manufacturers in the semiconductor industry.
“Works For Hire” A Key Issue As Music Stars Begin Terminating Copyright Transfers 05/03/2013 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Courts in the United States are beginning to interpret a Copyright Act of 1976 provision allowing authors of protected works to terminate their rights assignments beginning this year. Intellectual property attorneys appear to differ over the importance of the recent rulings, but they agree that the battle line in termination cases between the recording industry and artists will be drawn over whether or not a piece of music was created for hire.
Should Industry Support LDCs’ Request For Unlimited Time To Implement The TRIPS Agreement? Absolutely 04/03/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Nick Ashton-Hart writes: Some of you may have noticed that the ICT sector trade association that I represent in Geneva, the Computer and Communication Industry Association (CCIA), has endorsed a bid by the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDC’s) to remove any specific deadline for full compliance with the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement.
European Copyright Reform On Slow Track, Observers Say 27/02/2013 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment European talks aimed at dragging copyright law into the digital age are not likely to produce results any time soon because of resistance from rights holders and political manoeuvring in the European Commission, players from the internet service provider and consumer sectors say. But the Commission said while it’s true that changes could take several years, there will be regulation if needed.
Recording Industry Sees New “Buzz” From Digital Revenues 27/02/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The major recording industry association has released its annual report for 2012, announcing a 9 per cent increase in revenues from digital sales of music, with licensed music services on the rise. It also said it benefits most in countries where internet service providers have worked to drive down use of unauthorised music download sites.
ITU Sees Busy Year Ahead, Hopes To Overcome Divisions 26/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) foresees a busy year, and one in which it continues its longstanding role as the key convener of international policymaking on information and communications technologies, the ITU secretary general has said. And it has started the year with efforts to patch over deep divisions among its members that arose at an ITU conference in December.
Obama Administration Announces New Open Access Policy 26/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has issued a new policy memorandum increasing public access to federally funded scientific research, including peer-reviewed publications and digital data.
Web-Based IP Assessment Tool Gets Update From USPTO 25/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today released an updated version of their web-based intellectual property assessment tool, which aims to make small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more aware of their IP assests.
WIPO Blind Treaty Text Shapes Up On Last Day; More Drafting In April 23/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A week of arduous negotiations and doubts at the World Intellectual Property Organization about progress on a text to become a treaty for the benefit of visually impaired people was concluded positively yesterday with a sigh of relief by most delegations, and observers. A new text was issued and even though most deemed that crucial issues were addressed, some are outstanding and delegates will meet again in April to continue their drafting efforts.